Method of knitting



Ncv. 9? 1943.

R. H. I AwsoN METHOD OF KNITTING YFiled Feb'. 5, 193e;

BY @W7 Patented Nov. 9, 1943 Robert 11. Lawson,

Pawtucket; R. I., assgnor 'to VHemphiuCompany,oemmrraus, n.1.,ae0rfr 1 porationcf Massachusetts f l" appii'catmnrebrluary 5, 193s, seran No. 62,492;l Y v I s claims. (C1. (ss- 172) This case deals with a metnodfor knittinga stocking top `and the article produced. The top of a stocking welt is necessarily knitted yin some manner to present a selvage which will eiectively resist ravelling and which will present av pleas,-l ing appearance. The method herein concerned involves the introduction of an elastic yarn within the terminal courses of a stocking welt or top in ,such a manner that-the elastic yarn will bind the stitches which would otherwise be subject to running, and which will present a smooth appearance of the top after the elastic yarn has been allowed to contract and bind the said stitches.

The gure of the drawing represents a section of fabric knitted in accordance with the invention and shows in a conventional manner how the fabric is knitted, but does not illustrate the top after contraction of the elastic yarn.

The tops of stocking welts have heretofore been knitted in a manner to present a selvage which Vwill be satisfactory in appearance by special manipulation of the usual yarns which go to form said welt or by special manipulation and introduction of other similar yarns. It is the purpose of this invention to disclose a method of knitting wherein an elastic yarn may be employed for securing both a selvage and for obtaining a smooth and pleasing appearance at the top edge of the stocking Welt. The particular example shown illustrates a section of fabric which is formed as continuous or string work, this being well-known in the hosieryT arts and usually involving the knitting of loose pull courses in continuation of the toe of a stocking previously knitted, from which pull courses the top of the next stocking will be continued. These pull courses are withdrawn later to separate the indlvidual articles.

Referring to the gure, course I is the last course knitted at the loopers rounds of a preceding stocking or knitted article and courses 2, 3 and 4 are pull courses preferably knitted on alternate needles, or in any other suitable method employed for knitting such pull courses.

The next course 5 which will be the nrst course of the stocking top or welt neXt to be produced consists of a series of loops drawn on all the needles and alternate loops 6 drawn from an elastic yarn (which may be covered or uncovered rubber) and having floats 1 extending over the intervening wales. While it might be sufficient to introduce this elastic yarn only throughout the first course of the welt, it is preferably incorporated in courses 5 and 8 and obviously,

might be knitted throughout morev courses .el-f though it has been .found that two coursesserve quite satisfactorily. y V

The welt knitted in continuation ofnthese self vage lcourses may be of anyconventionaltype.,

but in accorda-nce with the present practice of knittingelastic yarn into the complet-e welt efV 1.a stocking'or at least throughout spaced courses thereof, the same elastic yarn will' beivincorp rated throughout the welt in any one of the known ways. In this particular instance the welt continues after selvage courses 5 and 8 by knitting courses 9 and I0 as plain courses and then by knitting courses I I, I2, I3, etc., as courses in which the elastic yarn has been introduced on every other needle. Many other methods of introducing the elastic may be resorted to such as knitting in spaced courses and on spaced wales, or it is possible that the elastic yarn may be laid in behind some needles and in front of others, even though it is knitted into courses 5 and 8. This elastic yarn will serve `as a garter when knitted throughout the welt and also may serve to eect a so-called rib appearance.

After the selvage has been cast from the needles the rubber yarn 6 which has been knitted under i considerable tension will contract, and in so doing, will draw up the two courses 5 and 8 so that the loops thereof will be effectively prevented from ravelling. This top will present a very satisfactory appearance and will also resist any tendency to curl. The use of elastic for securing a selvage in string work of the type described makes it unnecessary to provide for anything except plain knitting of the usual welt yarn and selection of alternate or spaced needles for taking the elastic yarn. It is of further advantage to employ this elastic yarn for a selvage since the rubber yarn has to be introduced throughout a large portion of the welt in welts of the type described wherein said elastic yarn has been incorporated for another purpose. It is within the scope of the invention to vary the number of needles upon which said rubber yarn 6 would be taken in courses 5 and `8, it not being necessary to knit the rubber on every other needle, although that has been found to be preferable.

The invention has been described with respect to a particular embodiment of the same, but the disclosure is not to be taken in a limiting sense since many changes may be made which will still fall within the scope of the original concept of the invention and I am not to 'be limited except by the limitations of the claims themselves.

2. A method of knitting hosiery in string work` comprising the steps of knitting so-calledV pull courses in continuation of the previously knitted` article, knitting the initial courses of the next article in continuation oi' `saiilstringf workfand incorporating in said'initial -courses an elastic"v A tic yarn `*will contract and will bind an initial yarn maintained under a suiiicient tension so that when it is released it will stitches against ravelling.

3. A method of knitting hosiery in stringwork including the steps vof knitting so-called pull courses in continuation oi' the terminalcours'e's of the previously knitted article and in continuation of said pull courses, knitting the initial courses of a stocking welt by knitting at least two'coinplete courses on all the needles and incorporating therewith an` elastic yarn simultaneously knitted into someof the loops of said two courses and maintaining tension on said elastic yarn. i

contract yto bind the- :stessero` l c 4. A method oiknittlng a seivage for e knitted fabric including the steps of feeding yarn to all of a series of needles and simultaneously feedingr an elastic yarn to alternate ones oi that series oi' needles under tension so that when released, the i said elastic yarn willcontractand willibin'd an initial course of the selvage to form a non-ravelling edge.

Y 5. A method fabric including the steps of feeding` yarn to all oi a series of needles for a plurality .of courses and for the ilrst two courses of the selvage feed.

elastic yarn to the hooks of and drawing it rinto stitches on ,alternate ones of the needles Only under` tension so that when released, the said elascourse foi.' the salvage to form a non-ravelling edge.`

tic and an inelasticyarn .toneedles of a knitting machine. feeding the elastic yarn under and to alternate needles only and the inelastic yarn to all the .needles and simultaneously draw# ing the` said yarns yand then casting.'r theme!! whereupon the elastic yarn will contractant! bind the initial course vagainst ravelling.- v f ammisi-Y ei'kmtugigdseivagefior a knitted t 6k. A method of knitting a seivage for a knitted f fabric including the steps oi' feeding both an elas- 

